Suspect in 2008 New Year’s Eve blast in GenSan nabbed

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/13 June) — Police operatives in Sarangani Province have arrested the alleged principal suspect in the New Year’s Eve grenade explosion at the oval plaza here in 2008 that injured 26 people, a police official said on Friday.

He said the suspect was nabbed at his home on Wednesday by joint police operatives based on a warrant of arrest issued by the Regional Trial Court here in August 2009.

“He was positively identified (by witnesses) as the one who hurled the grenade,” Peralta said.

Police had filed multiple frustrated charges against Suab and his brother Omar in connection with the grenade explosion on December 31, 2008 at a portion of the oval plaza here.

The explosion at around 9:10 p.m. occurred at a crowded portion of the plaza where several stalls selling pyrotechnics were situated.

Among those injured were two police officers who were then patrolling the area, which is the main venue of the city’s annual Christmas or Paskohan sa Gensan festivities.

Authorities initially tagged renegade Moro rebels as behind the attack but Peralta said they are still verifying whether the suspect is connected to any organized group.

He refused to speculate on the possible motive of the attack saying their personnel have yet to complete their investigation on the suspect.

Peralta said they are currently tracking down the whereabouts of Mudsul’s brother in coordination with the city police office and the Police Regional Office 12’s intelligence and investigation division.

“Rest assured that our operatives will not stop until all these criminal elements, especially those tagged in gruesome incidents, are captured and eventually jailed,” he added. (MindaNews)